I would like to register my…

I would like to register my formal objection to the Proposal to amend Ontario Regulation 161/17 to the Public Lands Act to change the requirements for camping on water over Ontario’s public lands. Specifically the section regarding the plan to prohibit camping on water within 300 meters of a developed shoreline by watercraft equipped for overnight accommodation. This restriction would effectively grant riparian rights to the private land owner and restrict access to anchorages of safe refuge to the navigator. This restriction is an overreach and would conflict with the provisions for the right to navigation and moorage (anchorage) granted under Federal Acts such as the Canada Shipping Act and the Navigable Waters Act. This is particularly troubling in water bodies defined as 'Scheduled" waters under the NWA. This includes Lake Huron (Georgian Bay and North Channel) which is of my primary concern. I can understand the need for the Province to update regulation to address the growing 'floating house" issue being experienced in some municipalities, and while your description proports to "not impact the common law right of navigation and reasonable moorage or the federal regulations of navigation" - it seems that it does just that with the 300m setback restriction proposed. Please consider reducing this setback or removing it all together for 'watercraft' as proposed to be defined under this same proposal. This will thus continue to permit reasonable moorage in harbours/bays of refuge on Lake Huron, Georgian Bay and the North Channel. Thank-you.